My people.
My realm.
My birthright.
A sound broke the moment?—
“Bestie!” Chloe ran through the warriors like a hurricane, throwing her arms around me and sobbing into my shoulder. “What the fuck? Why didn’t Trent take me too? Doesn’t he know we’re ride or die besties, sisters from different misters, bound for eternity by our love for Dale and Brennan?”
Nathan grunted, clearly irritated, but for once, he kept his mouth closed, smoothly stroking his hand down Dale’s feathers.
I laughed through tears, hugging her tight.
Behind her, I saw Mom and my fathers embracing Rue, tears streaming down their faces. Their Faction was whole again for the first time in years. I gave Chloe one last squeeze before letting her go and approached them.
When Rue saw me coming, he met me halfway. I nearly collapsed into his arms.
“I can’t believe I have a daughter.” His voice was thick and broken. “My girl…a queen.” He lifted a strand of my hair, then ran a finger over my cheek. “I’ve missed so much, and all of this was my fault.”
“No!” I hugged him tight. “You tried the only way you knew to fix things. The Dark Factions were the ones to pervert your cure.”
He whispered nonsensical words as he rocked me in his arms, and the rest of my parents joined him. After a few minutes, they took him away to be alone, away from the crowd, where they could comfort him and each other. I knew they had a lot of time to make up for, and I was beyond happy for them.
I felt the warmth of them surround me, tired of waiting for my attention. Each of them touching me, somewhere: a hand on my waist, a shoulder, a cheek, a kiss pressed to my hair.
For the first time since my very first life?—
I was ready to embrace my men and live the life Kratos/Trent/Torren had givenhislife for us to have. The name didn’t really matter; it was the soul that gave everything to me.
A ripple of wind swept across the mountain as every creature, every warrior, every soul bowed.
The Ancestors whispered one final time through the echo of dawn: “A QUEEN WITH SIX HEARTS. A REALM RESTORED.”
I stepped forward, my men flanking me, Chloe crying, Deshawn and Oliver fussing over her, my parents radiating joy, the Fellat and Varruk roaring their allegiance.
The sun broke the horizon.
And a new reign began.
Epilogue
REVERIE
The castle looked nothing like the crumbling ruin I remembered from dreams. It rose from the mountain like it had been grown from the stone itself—white marble threaded with gold veining, banners fluttering from tall spires, windows blazing with light.
The Ancestors had restored it when they restored me.
Inside, music hummed like an echo from past lives—low drums, strings that vibrated in bone-deep resonance, voices humming ancient song.
My people were gathered in the great hall—Fellat prowling the upper balconies like the sacred guardians they were, Varruk standing like statues flanking the entrance, Aurathion warriors lining the aisle in armor newly blessed by ancestral magic. Most had found their Faction, now that the ritual wasn’t needed with the curse broken.
And my parents.
Adelaide stood near the dais, her face glowing with joy and love. All my fathers were gathered around her, smiling proudly at me, except Grumpy, who was scowling at Nathan and Zane as they strutted beside me when we entered the hall.
At my entrance, every creature—Aurathion, Fellat, Varruk—lowered themselves in reverence.
The crown etched onto my skin burned warm, as if Trent approved and was with me in spirit.
